Piggy Parents Going On Holiday

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Sian25

Sian25

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Just wondering what arrangements you all make for your piggies when you go on holiday?

In the past, my mum and sister split between themselves to visit my pigs twice a day- but this is not very ideal. I am going away in June and trying to arrange what to do with my boys :bye: I would like them to have more contact than just twice daily but I can't really expect my family to make the 15 minute drive more than twice a day for 2 weeks. They can't keep them at their house because they have cats. I Hoover their cages at least 5 times a day so I can imagine that it would get very messy if only being done twice a day by family. Also, my two boys are in a c&c cage with grids down the middle to seperate them as they do not get along so I could imagine they would get very lonely with my family only visiting twice a day.
 
I normally have family visit as well; they normally only visit once a day, and my piggies are happy enough. I've also left them for a weekend before without being checked on (so no more than 48 hours), just making sure they have plenty of food and water before I go. They've never seemed unhappy or upset when I get back. The point I'm trying to make is that I'm sure they'll be okay with only being seen once or twice a day. It's not like it's forever. =)

Alternatively, would it not be possible to buy more grids to add a lid to the cage so that your family can have them at their house? And recommend keeping them in a room with a closed door (spare room or office?) so that the cats can't get in?

Just throwing ideas out there. I know how hard it can be leaving piggies in other people's care at times (not because they'll do a bad job, but just because it's your job and you want to be there to do it).

Where are you going on holiday? I presume it isn't anywhere where you can take the piggies (e.g., camping)?
 
I'll have this trouble too. Going away for 17 days in October and I'm dreading leaving them behind :soz: I feel your pain!
 
have you looked into piggie boarding? I had this as a backup plan once and it didn't work out too expensive, around £11/day for 5 piggies.
 
You got that exactly right there about how hard it is to leave them because it's your job. I suffer from OCD and anxiety which makes things a million times worse when leaving them also.

Last year I almost cancelled my 2 week holiday to Las vegas the day before I went because one pig somehow snapped his tooth and I was so worried that the other one would snap (with it being less strong without the others support) and he wouldn't be able to eat with two top teeth missing and obviously I wouldn't be there to ensure he was eating. My partner managed to persuade me to still go. I wrote a day by day care booklet for my mum and sister to follow with absolutely everything that had to be done each day (even though my mum and sister have had guinea pigs in the past and aren't stupid). I asked my mum and sister to send photos of the guinea pigs every day so I could put my mind at rest that they were still alive. I still cried the whole 10 hour flight to vegas haha but once I was there I wasn't too bad.

I did tell my partner that I wasn't going on holiday again due to not wanting to leave the pigs but I've recently told myself that I can't let anxiety and OCD defeat me :tu: And booked a 2 week holiday to majorca so unfortunately can't take the pigs.

The pigs did stay at my mums one year and they were in the spare room with the door shut but I hated the whole holiday because I worried that the cats had somehow got to the guinea pigs so I couldn't do that again even with a lid on the cage. I'd have nightmares again haha! Plus the spare room is very small and I don't think there's much air circulation with the door shut.
 
Eeeek, just realised I look like I'm trying to promote my business, I'm not. I'm miles and miles away ;)
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
Wouldn't the change of environment be quite stressful for them?
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I guess it depends on the guineapigs but mine seem to adapt very quickly to new surroundings as long as their piggie friends are still there. I have not yet put them into boarding as they have just come with us on holiday, they have even gone once without me (with my partner) and they all got along fine. I think we worry too much and the piggies are actually okay about these situations! I would definitely recommended boarding though as they are usually very experienced with small animals and will be in the best hands. Many also can send photos/updates etc.
 
We have a Facebook page and put pictures and videos on, we're hoping to setup pig cams in the hutches so piggy parents can just log on to see their pets lol

One of the things I've noticed is that piggies take about a day to settle in. But as we all know, they're quite food orientated so I think they bond with the rattle of the food bag quite quickly!
 
Oh bless, yes I'm worried about all my animals when I got on holiday, usually my mum's here to look after them but I'm going with her this year XD

Haha yes that would be a drive and a half for some piggy boarding XD But doesn't it stress them out to take them away from home and leave them with strangers for all that time?
 
Hannah Boyd said:
I guess it depends on the guineapigs but mine seem to adapt very quickly to new surroundings as long as their piggie friends are still there. I have not yet put them into boarding as they have just come with us on holiday, they have even gone once without me (with my partner) and they all got along fine. I think we worry too much and the piggies are actually okay about these situations! I would definitely recommended boarding though as they are usually very experienced with small animals and will be in the best hands. Many also can send photos/updates etc.
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I've just read these latest comments so sorry haha.

Well that's a relief from both of you, it's something I can consider anyway. Shame a I don't live closer to do your piggy boarding haha. I need some piggie orientated friends here!
 
I'm sure you'll find someone really good to love your piggies for you while you're away xx​
 
I have a piggy shed with six foot hutches, but I also move piggies into my conservatory if it gets very very cold.
 
Sometimes owners like to bring their own cages too and those usually go inside.
 
@Wendle sounds lovely! I'd love to run a business like that, couldn't think of anything more exciting than spoiling a house full of piggies. Don't think I'd be able to give them back though :soz: So maybe not a good idea haha
 
I get really attached to them. I've just had three really sweet piggies staying, they were so lively, and really vocal! So lovely, and I get to see lots of different breeds. I think teddies are my favourites, they're so cuddly.
 
I couldn't do that, I would wanna keep all the piggies and I'd be arrested for stealing all the piggies and have to run to Mexico!
 
If its an over night trip I have friends and neighbours who come in but for longer times away my ladies go up to my parents. They have a dog so what they did last time is put the girls on a table in the spare room, door shut to keep the dog out, they were very good about keeping it shut and sending updates (including the fact they'd pulled their water bottle off the holder and tipped over all their food in the first 24 hours, they took a while to settle down)
Only issue is my parents aren't too keen on holding them, they only do that when cleaning them out, I.e. Once every 3/4 days. For a week that's not too bad I can accept that.
Later this year I'm going on a round the world trip for my 30th so the girls will be with them for a month. They will be under strict instructions to have them out for cuddles every other day during that time.

I have looked into boarding for the odd instance I was running into problems getting them up and back. My friend has a rabbit who she boards and says it is worth the money to put her mind at ease.
Would definitley look into it if you're not sure your family will keep the cats out of a room with them in.
 
If I'm only away for 1-2 nights I ask the MIL to pop in and see to the piggies but any longer than that I use a boarding service. I use a fabulous rabbit and guinea pig boarding hotel near where I live. They are excellent at looking after poorly piggies and have medicated several of mine over the years which is such a relief. The care they receive there is second to none and I have absolutely no worries about them when they are there (although I miss them like crazy).
 
@Heather Gail I know my family would keep the cats out of the room, they are big animal lovers but the way my head thinks means I always think the worst and it spoils my holiday worrying about the cats accidentally getting into the room. The issue I have with boarding is that the pigs seem to be kept outside and mine aren't used to that so I worry they wouldn't cope with the temperature change.

I'm not going until June but I need things sorted early. I have been speaking to my sister (who currently lives with my parents and only works weekends) I have offered to pay her £400 to live at my house for the 2 weeks and take the time off work. I have a dog too that she could look after so this would probably be the best option but although I obviously trust my family that they would do their best with my animals, it worries me sick haha.
 
@VickiA what is the name of the boarding hotel please? I live pretty near to cheshire so could look into it as a last resort and do they keep the pigs indoors?
 
My pigs live indoors and the boarding I use keeps all piggies indoors I heated pavilions with music and lighting etc.
 
Sian25 said:
@VickiA what is the name of the boarding hotel please? I live pretty near to cheshire so could look into it as a last resort and do they keep the pigs indoors?
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We posted at the same time! It's BooBoo's Bunny Hotel in Congleton.
 
You could always make a list and ring them all, explain your circumstances, go and visit and make sure you're happy. X
 
Thanks @VickiA, just searched it on maps and it's 1hr2 mins drive away so not too far as a last resort. That drive home from dropping them off would be hideous though :bye:
 
This makes me realise how lucky I am to have my parents only a 45min drive away.

I brought a spare hutch to keep at their place - it's a bit small really, but then they're not spending that long in it!

The pigs have got used to traveling down there to visit if we go away. I take their run and a some run shelters down with them and they have a great time eating someone elses lawn.


I have trained all my pigs to hop in and out of a box or cat carrier to be taken in and out of the hutch and the run. This means that even my Dad, who was never good at catching small furries, can easily get them in and out of their 6ft run if he needs to.

Good luck with finding a sloution for yours.
 
My cage setup has to be mobile, as we take the pigs, cage and all, back and forth to the cottage all summer. So I've been lucky enough that I've typically been able to move the whole setup either to my parents or to a friend's house when I am out of town. I always fret over them when I'm away, but thus far everyone has been okay while I've been gone!
 
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